Jordan

Overview

Jordan is a relatively small country dependent largely on services, foreign aid and tourism. There are approximately 1,000 horses and donkeys in and around Petra working as part of the local tourism industry.

Making a difference

• In March 2010, the Brooke transferred the responsibility for running the veterinary clinic to the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan and signed an agreement with the Ministry to make sure that local veterinary care for horses and donkeys in Petra will still be available.
• The Brooke continues to work with government vets, providing training and information to ensure a good quality service. With the Ministry of Agriculture offering veterinary care, the Brooke has been able to develop a different type of support for horses and donkeys and their owners in Jordan, with a focus on education, training and raising awareness to improve the handling and management of horses and donkeys.
• Farriery for riding and carriage horses is now the responsibility of the Horse Owners Association (HOA) which was partly set up due to the Brooke’s encouragement. In addition to the responsibilities taken on by the local animal owners, the authorities have also accepted increasing responsibilities, for example, the Petra Park Authority, are ensuring the proper implementation of new by-laws: horses are being inspected regularly to see whether they are fit to work and the Brooke are training park rangers in animal welfare to support this work. 

See our Responsible Tourism for Animals campaign